Impact Review Consultant

Impact Review Consultant 

JOB DESCRIPTION  

A. TITLE:  Impact Review Consultant   B. RESPONSIBLE TO: Earth Skills Network Manager, Earthwatch (Line Manager)                  C. DIRECT REPORTS:  None 

D. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: 

To design and carry out an impact review in order to understand the actual and potential impacts on protected area management at World Heritage Sites of the Business Skills for World Heritage Programme, funded by Shell. This position requires approximately 40 days work over a period of not more than 4 months, to start on or before 1st October 2013.  This role is not based at the Earthwatch office, but will require face to face meetings in Oxford, several times during the first months and at least monthly thereafter.  The role also requires international travel.  

E. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES: 

* To gain a good understanding of the Business Skills for World Heritage  (BS4WH) Programme from Earthwatch documentation, programme feedback, previous impact reviews and from meetings with key Earthwatch and Shell/ Shell Foundation staff * To identify the expected outputs, outcomes and impacts of the BS4WH programme on protected area management at World Heritage Sites and consider the feasibility and means of assessing the extent to which these outputs, outcomes and impacts have been or are in the process of being achieved * To identify best practicable methods for gaining reliable information on the outcomes and impacts * To prepare an initial draft plan for the impact review, for comments from Earthwatch and Shell/ Shell Foundation * To prepare a final plan for the impact review incorporating suggestions form Earthwatch and Shell/ Shell Foundation, including a draft final report structure * Carry out the planned review.  It is expected that this will include: - Review of existing documentation in order to assess what we already know, with regard to expected outputs, outcomes or impacts o A survey of participant mentees to gain additional information, and request documentation (if appropriate) - Contact with World Heritage site organisations including line managers of participant mentees/ senior staff to gain additional insights (if appropriate) - Contact with independent organisations with good understanding of protected area management issues  in target  countries to gain context for expected outcomes and impacts o Contact with organisations involved in the programme (UNESCO, Shell Foundation and others) to identify factors which potentially affect the outcomes and impacts of the programme o Analyse and prepare a data set on what is known about protected area management status at target sites and what is known about the outputs of the programme at each site; preliminary indications about likely outcomes and impacts of the programme at each site; and preliminary indications about factors that promote or limit likely positive outcomes o Identification of a number of sites willing and able to provide more detailed information on outcomes and impacts of the programme.  These should include at least 2 sites in which the programme is 

Impact Review Consultant 

thought to have resulted in positive outcomes and impacts and at least one site at which the programme is thought not to have had such positive outcomes o Site visits (probably to 3 sites) to conduct in-depth semi-structured interviews with mentees, line managers and others implicated in the programme; to collect on-site documentation demonstrating actual outputs and outcomes of the programme; to observe actual outcomes in the field where possible; and to assess the likelihood of outcomes and impacts for on-going work arising from the programme, where possible. 

* Analyse and write up the information gathered o Strengthen the data set with best available information - Summarise all relevant data in a draft report, including 3 case studies on the visited sites and submit for review by Earthwatch and Shell/ Shell Foundation - Produce the final report incorporating responses to feedback from Earthwatch and Shell - The final report will include an executive summary and a slide presentation to aid communication o Produce a summary version for external publication - Present the findings at a small workshop with Earthwatch, Shell and UNESCO 

F. PERSON SPECIFICATION 

Essential: 

· Experienced researcher or monitoring and evaluation professional · Experience of designing and carrying out project evaluations or impact reviews · Strong background in conservation and protected area management  · Self-starter, with good project management skills, and capable of working with limited support · Ability to analyse, synthesise and present information effectively · Excellent communication skills (tact and ability to communicate with people of different cultures and languages) · Excellent report writing skills · To deliver this role you will need your own laptop. You should be able to attend meetings in Oxford in person, even if this is not your base. 

Desirable:  

· Good presentations skills · French language  · Previous experience working in Africa and South-East Asia  

G. PAY GRADE OR FEE CLASSIFICATION 

 Pay will be at a competitive NGO consultant rate and will be based on experience.  

    F. APPLICATION PROCESS 

Before applying, please ensure you have read the accompanying Statement of Purpose, which provides full details of the post. 

Impact Review Consultant  

To apply for this position please send the following via email to Sarah Briggs, Human Resources Manager, uk.hr@earthwatch.org.uk or via post to Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DE. The closing date is Monday 12th August 2013 

· Covering letter; · CV; · Example of written work that is most relevant to the proposed job description, e.g. abstract, executive summary and first chapter of relevant work; · Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive contract price for the 4 month period of work (excluding international travel); · Details of two referees who can confirm your ability to successfully undertake this project. References will be taken up prior to any appointment, and may be contacted prior to selection for interview.  

Closing date: Monday 12th August 2013 Interviews:  w/c 19th August 2013